We might be having one of the wettest autumns since records began, but there is a silver lining to all that cloud and rain – it’s provided the perfect conditions for growing cider apples.
And local cider makers Thatchers said the harvest at Myrtle Farm, and across Somerset with all the other orchards that supply the apples for the firm’s products, said this year’s weather has produced some of the biggest apple crops they’ve seen for years.
Because, while the rain of September was record-breaking, it was also interspersed with a few days here and there of warm sunshine – this autumn so far has been one of the mildest too – which has helped the apples, according to Martin Thatcher.
“Cider apples love a mild autumn,” he said. “The warmer weather mixed with the moisture in the deep, rich Somerset soil gave the trees a perfect environment to produce our traditional bittersweet varieties, such as Dabinett and Somerset Redstreak.
“The rain has been a blessing for the trees, while the late summer sun has boosted the fruit’s natural sugars, giving our ciders their distinctive depth and character,” he added.
“As a cidermaker we need traditional bittersweet apple varieties to bring the tannins and full body to our ciders, while certain varieties of dessert apples – such as our favourite Katy, add extra freshness and sweetness where needed,” he said.
The harvest of all the different varieties of apples is now complete, and they harvest different varieties at different times.
The bright red Katy apples were the first to be harvested over the August Bank Holiday. They are used in Thatchers Juicy Apple, Thatchers Apple and Blackcurrant and in Thatchers Katy itself. These apples have already been pressed and fermented ready for this year’s festive season.
“The mix of weather we’ve seen—plenty of rain followed by bursts of warm sunshine—has been exactly what our apples needed,” explained Chris Muntz-Torres, Thatchers’ orchard manager. “It’s helped the fruit ripen slowly and develop the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity, ready to be pressed into our award-winning ciders,” he added.